A highly organised operation resulted in the interception of a large quantity of illicit cannabis in the Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal area. The suspects were attempting to transport over 400kg of marijuana from Swaziland to Johannesburg.
It should be noted that while cannabis usage is legal within South Africa, The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act regulates the cultivation, possession, and use of cannabis by adults in a private setting.
However, it does not allow for the sale of the plant in a private capacity or the unauthorised transportation of large volumes.
Nevertheless, on Sunday night, 7 July 2024, law enforcement received information that two vehicles were travelling from Swaziland to Johannesburg with a large shipment of illegal cannabis, following which an operational team was put into place.
This saw the SAPS’s Zululand Task Team, Newcastle Stabilisation Unit, Newcastle K9 Unit, Utrecht SAPS, Ingogo SAPS, Newcastle Crime Fighters, WinziBee and Barnard Security, the Newcastle Community Policing Forum, The Anti Hijacking Unit, and Optimus Protections Service jump into action.
The two vehicles were stopped near a mine within Utrecht’s borders. One vehicle was found with 195kg of cannabis, while the second was found with 251kg of cannabis.
Moreover, two suspects were subsequently arrested, and a total of 446kg of cannabis was recovered. Along with the seized marijuana, both vehicles were booked into Utrecht SAPS. The suspects were charged with possession and dealing.
Newcastle SAPS Spokesperson Lizzy Arumugam confirmed the arrests and noted that further investigations were underway while commending all those involved.
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Comments 1
Another case thrown out of court, therefore 0 impact on crime.